That Girl And her Tiger Tattoo

ch. 10- The Man

The next day, I awoke and rose from my bed, as I heard yelling coming from the kitchen. There was a man there with a small brown beard and baseball cap. He was yelling at my foster mother while the children hid behind her all except for Dan. He stood in front of his mother and looked angry at the man, too.
"Why don't you go away? We don't need you here."
"Now, son..."
"Who are you calling your son?" It takes me awhile to realize I'm the one that said it.
Everyone stares at me.
Mr. Baseball cap shakes it off and glares at me. "I'm calling Dan my son, of, course."
"Why?" I glare back at him. Who cares if he's a couple inches taller?
"Because, he is my son."
"Um... he is?"
"Yes. Dan is Linda and I's son."
"Oh..."
"Yeah, oh..."
"Well, sorry. But... Why are you yelling at Linda?"
"I want Dan to live with me for awhile."
"And?"
"Linda won't let him."
I look at Linda. "Why not?"
"He's no good! He just wants Dan to stay with him to make me mad. I don't need Dan to be neglected."
"Yeah," Dan chimes in. "And I don't want to leave either."
"Look," I say, turning to face Dan's father. "I think you should probably leave for the best interest of your family."
"What would you know about family?"
I stood, gaping. Oh, no, he did not.
"I could ask you the same," I reply coolly. "You don't seem to have much experience where as I was with my real family for most of my life."
"I see. Well, I should probably be going. But, don't worry, I will be back soon."
"Of, course you will," I respond flatly. "And we'll sit you down to have dinner with us but insist you leave before it gets too dark to drive. Because, we will show you how to be courteous and respectful even to people you truly dislike."
He looked dumbfounded by that and I gently pushed him towards the door, him going willingly, still stunned as though he had been struck by lightning."
I put him out on the doorstep, then I slam the door, almost knocking him off his feet. I lock it to be sure and turn back to the Linda and the children.
"Do you have breakfast ready?" I ask, glancing at the time.
"Oh, yes. Today we're having oatmeal."
"Cool. Where's Sam?"
"Still asleep I imagine, I'd only be waking you up now."
"Ok, I'll go wake Sam up. You can start feeding the kids."
"Alright. And, Samantha?"
"Yeah?"
"Thank you."
I turn and smile. "No problem at all."
And it wasn't, I was used to keeping order in the hell houses I'd lived in before. They were pretty crazy.
I made my way over to Sam's room and knocked. "Sam?" I ask.
A muffled snore comes from behind the door and I turn the knob to slowly open it.
Just as soon as the door is open, an alarm clock is flung at my head. It is in midair just as it finally goes off before smacking me in the head and I fall backwards yelling, "Sam!"
"Yes?" He asks nervously before coming out. "Sorry, Samantha. I didn't mean to, but I was expecting a monster."
I sit up slowly and rub my head. "Did he have an appointment?" I ask.
Sam looks confused then shakes his head.
"Well, then, you shouldn't expect monsters, kiddo. They won't come unless they have an appointment to see you."
He looks a little more at ease.
"K?"
"K," he replies with a big half-toothless smile.
We head downstairs and see that the rest of the kids are already at the table.
"Hey, guys," I say as I sit down across from Dan. I don't really want to since he's staring at me intensely again but it's the last seat left since Sam already bounded to the other empty seat at the table.
Linda comes over and pours some oatmeal in my bowl with a smile on her face.
As she walks away, Dan throws a hand down on mine almost like a mouse trap letting the tension build up, finally able to spring.
I look up, shocked.
"Hey..." he says, jerking his hand back. "I wanted to thank you... uh... for earlier."
I smile sincerely. "No problem. If you saw some of the places I've stayed."
"Ah, every foster kid has their horror stories. But... I thought we were your first home."
"Mhm. You are," I say, then before he can ask any further questions, I ask him what the weather forecast for today is.
He quickly replies that it will rain and I nod my head.
Then, just like yesterday, I jump up from my seat and quickly ask Linda if any help is needed. She says no and I scurry to the door and grab my bag. Then, I let myself out the front door and walk to school quickly as the bus has yet to come.